Candidacy Evaluation Services

The UTD Callier Cochlear Implant Program at Children's Medical Center evaluates children using a best practice, interdisciplinary approach. Children receive hearing evaluations, speech-language evaluations, medical evaluations, and other services as needed. CI Candidacy evaluations are completed at Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Legacy Campuses.

Information is also gathered from the child’s physicians, current teachers and/or speech-language pathologists. The purpose of these evaluations is to determine if a child is a candidate for a cochlear implant and to provide the family with information about the benefits a cochlear implant might provide the child.

Hearing testing is completed to determine if the child’s hearing qualifies him/her as a candidate for a cochlear implant. Unaided (without hearing aids) and aided testing (with hearing aids) is conducted, as well as testing to evaluate if the child is able to understand any sounds or speech he/she may be able to hear. This evaluation typically requires more than one appointment for young children.